Iran 'failed' with space monkey launch

October 12, 2011

In mid-March, Iran announced the successful launch of an earlier version of the rocket, Kavoshgar-4

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An image grab taken from Iran's English-language official Press TV station shows the Kavoshgar 3 (Explorer) satellite moments priot to its launch from an undisclosed location. Iran has acknowledged as a failure its attempt to send a live monkey into space last month -- touted as its first step towards launching a man into space.

Iran acknowledged as a failure on Wednesday its attempt to send a live monkey into space last month -- touted as its first step towards launching a man into space.

"The Kavoshgar-5 rocket carrying a capsule with a live animal (a monkey) was launched during Shahrivar," an Iranian calendar month spanning August 23 to September 22, Deputy Science Minister Mohammad Mehdinejad-Nouri was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.

"However, the was not publicised as all of its anticipated objectives were not accomplished," Mehdinejad-Nouri told reporters.

He said the launch of a live animal into was "strategic, and a priority," and expressed hope that future launches would attain more of the objectives set.

On October 3, Iran indefinitely postponed plans to send a live monkey into space, without giving any reasons.

"One cannot give a set date for this project and as soon as our nation's scientists announce the readiness (of the project) it will be announced," said Hamid Fazeli, head of Iran's Space Organisation.

The project envisaged launching a capsule with life support using the Kavoshgar-5 rocket to an altitude of 120 kilometres (75 miles) for a 20-minute sub-orbital flight.

The project was unveiled in February by President .

At the time, Fazeli touted the launch of a large animal as the first step towards sending a man into space, which Tehran says is scheduled for 2020.

In mid-March, Iran announced the successful launch of an earlier version of the rocket, Kavoshgar-4, carrying a test capsule designed to house the monkey.

Iran has already sent into space -- a rat, turtles and worms -- aboard a capsule carried by its Kavoshgar-3 rocket in 2010.

The Islamic republic, which first put a satellite into in 2009, has outlined an ambitious space programme amid Western concerns the rocket technology may be linked to developing ballistic missiles that could deliver nuclear warheads.

Tehran has repeatedly denied that its nuclear and scientific programmes mask military ambitions.

(c) 2011 AFP

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Doug_Huffman
Oct 12, 2011

Rank: 1 / 5 (7)
PETA?

PETA, PETA, monkey eata, had a monkey but couldn't keep her. Put her in a rocket shell, and there kept her virgin very well.
FrankHerbert
Oct 12, 2011

Rank: 1.4 / 5 (10)
Well, I guess you do have autism Mr. Huffman.
GreyLensman
Oct 12, 2011

Rank: 1 / 5 (3)
I had a little rocket ship,
Nothing would it bear,
But a Persian simian,
In a tiny chair.

It blew up on the launch pad,
They say theyll torture me,
And all for the sake,
Of a little monkey.
dan42day
Oct 12, 2011

Rank: 4 / 5 (2)
What a clever way to test an ICBM.
TJ_alberta
Oct 12, 2011

Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
dan43day - I don't think that they are fooling anybody but little has been done to stop them.
rwinners
Oct 13, 2011

Rank: not rated yet
Ahmadinejad got the blue funk and didn't get aboard afterall. Understandable.
NANOBRAIN
Oct 13, 2011

Rank: not rated yet
SEND THE MONKEYS THAT LEADS IRAN NEXT!
hard2grep
Oct 13, 2011

Rank: not rated yet
This is a basic attempt already seen by us decades ago. You strap a live animal onto a rocket, and it will suffer from g-forces (passing out, brain damage, etc...). Ok, maybe more than a few decades. Even in the picture, it looks as if they just retrofitted the capsule to a missile not intended for animal usage. Anybody remember the kitty cat time bomb. The cats became unconscious during the intended time of detonation.
Rank 5 /5 (2 votes)
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